Insopesca Sanctions Shark Finning

VENEZUELA - The Socialist Institute of Fishing and Aquaculture (Insopesca) is on permanent alert to complaints of suspected shark finning off the Central Coast. In this regard, a fine of 200 to 300 tax units will be given to anyone who illegally practices this activity.

Shark finning is prohibited by the resolution published in the Official Gazette 39,947 dated June 19, 2012.

Finning involves amputating shark fins and discarding the animal, still alive, into the sea, which is a waste of animal protein and also negatively impacts the ecosystem.

In response, Insopesca has redoubled its efforts against the practice and, in conjunction with other State bodies, is working to eradicate this crime, overseeing that all sharks caught are in full body and transported to port.

To this end, Insopesca has established the maximum weight of shark fins and all the product of seven tons and certification of origin is required.

Those who do not have the required documentation can be fined, as established in the Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

As part of the National Action Plan (NAP) for conservation, the Bolivarian government protects sharks, since their slow growth, low fecundity, late sexual maturity and longevity, makes it fragile and prone to collapse by overfishing.

In this sense, besides finning, which kills an estimated 100 million sharks annually worldwide, the activity is completely prohibited in the archipelago of Los Roques and Las Aves, which are breeding grounds for several species, and bycatch is set to five fish per boat.